‘Where’s my Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) update?’

There seems to be some confusion around when Windows Phone users will get their big “Mango” software update.

As least that’s what I’m hearing from Microsoft Blog readers. One reader called to say many of the reports from other news outlets are, for the most part, confusing.

So, let me give it to you straight: You’ll get it when you get it.

That’s about all I can say at this point. Microsoft announced Tuesday that the Mango update, which will deliver Windows Phone 7.5 to users, has begun to roll out. That doesn’t mean that all Windows Phone users are now getting the update; it means Microsoft and its wireless partners – AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint in the U.S. – have started the process.

Microsoft has updated its not-too-handy “Where’s my phone update?” webpage for the Mango release. For Windows Phone 7.5, it says all U.S. carriers are now “delivering update,” with a few caveats listed below. But most Windows Phone users haven’t gotten it yet.

“To help ensure quality, software updates are typically sent out gradually and/or in batches, so it might take several weeks before you receive notice that an update is available for your phone,” Microsoft explains.

The company says delivery has begun for the HTC Surround, LG Quantum and Samsung Focus version 1.3 phones on AT&T. For the Samsung Focus version 1.4 on AT&T, the update is in testing. For the Dell Venue Pro on AT&T, Mango delivery is in the “planning” stage. And for the HTC HD7S on AT&T, the update is “scheduling.” In fact, the HTC HD7S and Dell Venue Pro haven’t even gotten the last update – the one that prepares the devices for Mango. There are no asterisks for the other three big U.S. carriers.

So, hold tight. Your phone will tell you when your update is ready.

There’s nothing unusual or inherently controversial about the seemingly lengthy update process. This is also how it works, for example, with Google Android phones – software updates are rolled out gradually, to make sure everything works and to minimize server overloads.

It’s different for delivering iOS updates to the iPhone, because Apple has only one family of devices to worry about. And Apple made them.